Victorian Scotland
Erin McKeeHistory Group
Balfron 2012 Comenius Project
Why Victorian Scotland?
• Victorian culture still influential in Scotland today
• It was a time of great change
• Many places to visit across the country
Queen Victoria
• Alexandrina Victoria• Victoria ruled from 1837-1901• She spoke 4 languages• Victoria had 9 children, 40 grand-children and 37
great-grandchildren.• Her husband Albert died in 1861 at the young
age of 42. She mourned his death for almost 10 years. For the rest of her reign she wore black.
• Time of great change.
Industrialisation
• Major towns and cities and some small villages became linked together by railway lines
• Fourth Rail Bridge has been instrumental in connecting the north-east to the south-east of Scotland
• Has become a symbol of industry in Scotland as it ties together multiple industry sectors
• Coal mining has existed in Scotland since the 12th century
• They were dark, damp and cold...• Work in the mines was dangerous• Canaries became lookout birds
• West of Scotland have been famous for shipbuilding for hundreds of years due to the River Clyde
• Clydebank was built to be a town used for shipbuilding families.
• A well known landmark in Glasgow is the Finnieston crane which was built in 1931 to fit engines in to large ships, it is still in working order today
Education
• Education was seen as a privilege• The 3 “R’s” Reading, wRiting & dictation and
aRithmetic• Punishments and the “Dunce”• Scotland Street School
Leisure
• Travelling was expensive and holiday travel only became more popular after railway lines were introduced
• Seaside holidays became popular• Cricket, golf, archery and croquet became popular
for the upper class
• One of the most famous buildings in Glasgow is The People’s Palace as well as Kelvingrove Museum
• Zoos and Botanic Gardens grew in popularity too in the 1800s